CVE-2018-6669 in Application Control
Summary
by MITRE
A whitelist bypass vulnerability in McAfee Application Control / Change Control 7.0.1 and before allows a remote or local user to execute blacklisted files through an ASP.NET form.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/20/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-6669 represents a critical security flaw in McAfee Application Control and Change Control versions 7.0.1 and earlier, specifically affecting the application's whitelist enforcement mechanism. This vulnerability enables both remote and local attackers to circumvent the intended security controls designed to prevent execution of blacklisted files through the exploitation of ASP.NET form handling mechanisms. The flaw fundamentally undermines the core security model of the application control system by allowing unauthorized code execution despite explicit blacklisting of malicious files.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation and sanitization of input parameters within the ASP.NET form processing components of the McAfee application control software. When users interact with web-based administrative interfaces or submit forms through the application control system, the software fails to properly validate the integrity of submitted data before determining whether files should be executed or blocked. This processing gap creates an attack surface where malicious inputs can manipulate the application's decision-making process to bypass the whitelist enforcement controls. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the system processes form submissions that contain crafted input data which can influence the application's interpretation of file execution permissions, effectively allowing blacklisted executables to be executed under certain conditions.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability exposes organizations using McAfee Application Control to significant security risks including potential privilege escalation, persistent threat execution, and complete bypass of application control policies. Attackers can leverage this flaw to execute malicious code that would normally be blocked by the system's blacklisting mechanisms, potentially leading to full system compromise. The remote execution capability means that attackers need not have physical access to target systems, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where administrative interfaces are accessible over networks. Organizations may experience unauthorized access to sensitive data, system infiltration, and potential lateral movement within their network infrastructure.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, "Improper Input Validation," and demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1059.007, "Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell," and T1068, "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation," as attackers can exploit the bypass to execute malicious payloads that would otherwise be blocked. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patches, implementing additional network segmentation controls, and monitoring for suspicious form submissions that may indicate exploitation attempts. The remediation process requires careful coordination with McAfee support teams to ensure proper patch deployment while maintaining system availability. Additional defensive measures should include enhanced logging and monitoring of administrative interfaces, implementation of network-based intrusion detection systems, and regular security assessments to identify potential exploitation vectors. Organizations should also consider temporary workarounds such as disabling vulnerable ASP.NET form processing capabilities until permanent patches are deployed and validated across their infrastructure.